Leah Karpel, 28

Leah Karpel, 28

Playing the new girl in school in Griffin Theatre's "Punk Rock," Karpel dazzled with a character that grabbed the pain and insecurity of being a smart teenager forced to keep moving with parents who don't understand her need for community. This 28-year-old actress certainly is forging a spot for herself in the Midwestern theater community. Her remarkable past season included a turn -- as Uta Hagen, no less -- in "Ten Chimneys." Karpel grew up in West Rogers Park and, later, on the North Shore, where she went to New Trier High School. After Boston University, New York was her first professional home. But Karpel came back to Chicago to attend the School at Steppenwolf in 2010. And she plans to stay. "This," Karpel said, "is where I need to be." UP NEXT: Appearing in ¿Neighborhood 3¿ at Strawdog Theatre in October; strawdog.org

Playing the new girl in school in Griffin Theatre's "Punk Rock," Karpel dazzled with a character that grabbed the pain and insecurity of being a smart teenager forced to keep moving with parents who don't understand her need for community. This 28-year-old actress certainly is forging a spot for herself in the Midwestern theater community. Her remarkable past season included a turn -- as Uta Hagen, no less -- in "Ten Chimneys." Karpel grew up in West Rogers Park and, later, on the North Shore, where she went to New Trier High School. After Boston University, New York was her first professional home. But Karpel came back to Chicago to attend the School at Steppenwolf in 2010. And she plans to stay. "This," Karpel said, "is where I need to be." UP NEXT: Appearing in ¿Neighborhood 3¿ at Strawdog Theatre in October; strawdog.org

Playing the new girl in school in Griffin Theatre's "Punk Rock," Karpel dazzled with a character that grabbed the pain and insecurity of being a smart teenager forced to keep moving with parents who don't understand her need for community. This 28-year-old actress certainly is forging a spot for herself in the Midwestern theater community. Her remarkable past season included a turn -- as Uta Hagen, no less -- in "Ten Chimneys." Karpel grew up in West Rogers Park and, later, on the North Shore, where she went to New Trier High School. After Boston University, New York was her first professional home. But Karpel came back to Chicago to attend the School at Steppenwolf in 2010. And she plans to stay. "This," Karpel said, "is where I need to be." UP NEXT: Appearing in ¿Neighborhood 3¿ at Strawdog Theatre in October; strawdog.org